Grafton Hotel
Multi-zone lighting control for a 1910 hospitality landmark
A Far North Queensland pub trading since 1910, relaunched with six independently controlled hospitality zones on a fully wireless platform — scene control from the wall or a phone, and cloud access for ongoing support.
A hotel built for community, reimagined for the future
For more than 124 years, the Grafton Hotel has stood at the heart of Edmonton, Queensland.
Built in 1910 by Scottish pioneers John and Sarah MacLeod, the hotel has evolved alongside the community it helped establish. From serving cane cutters arriving by horse and cart to becoming one of Far North Queensland’s best-known local venues, the Grafton has always been more than simply a hotel — it has been a gathering place. The hotel’s history, including its famous “Great Singing Case of 1914”, reflects its long-standing role as a social hub for the Edmonton community.
As part of a major refurbishment and grand reopening on 4 August, Tecmor was engaged to deliver an intelligent lighting control solution that respects the character of the venue while providing the flexibility expected from a modern hospitality destination.
The challenge
Modern hospitality venues rarely operate as a single space. Throughout the day, lighting requirements continually change as different areas transition between breakfast service, lunch, gaming, sporting events, evening dining, functions and late-night entertainment.
The Grafton Hotel required a control system capable of independently managing multiple hospitality environments while remaining intuitive for staff to operate. The solution also needed to support future expansion without requiring additional control cabling or major infrastructure changes.
The Tecmor solution
Tecmor designed and commissioned a fully wireless lighting control system built around Casambi BLE.
Wireless BLE mesh communications remove the need for dedicated control wiring while allowing every control device to communicate as part of a resilient network. The Casambi Cloud Gateway provides secure remote access for programming, diagnostics and future support.
The control system was commissioned on site by Tecmor in Cairns, with lighting scenes tailored specifically to the operational requirements of each hospitality space.
Hospitality zones
The system provides independent control across multiple operational zones, allowing venue staff to instantly recall lighting scenes suited to different trading conditions.
- Sports — dynamic scenes suited to televised sporting events, day-to-day operation and evening ambience.
- Bistro — flexible lighting supporting daytime dining through to evening service with adjustable levels.
- Dining & function — scene-based lighting transitioning between casual dining, private functions and special events.
- Gaming — comfortable, controlled lighting for a consistent gaming environment with appropriate ambient illumination.
- Back of house & bar — functional task lighting for staff operations, preparation areas and service counters.
- Beer garden — flexible outdoor lighting for afternoon trading, evening dining and entertainment.
The zoning strategy follows the venue’s specialist lighting design and refurbishment plans, providing independent control of the sports bar, bistro, beer garden, function area, gaming and back-of-house operational areas.
Delivering modern hospitality
Hospitality venues demand lighting that adapts as quickly as the venue itself. By combining wireless lighting controls, intuitive user interfaces and cloud-connected management, Tecmor has delivered a platform that enhances both customer experience and day-to-day venue operation.
The result is a smart lighting system that complements the extensive refurbishment of one of Far North Queensland’s most recognisable hotels — preserving the legacy of a venue established in 1910 while providing a flexible foundation for the next generation of hospitality.